Event decorating for adults is a bit different than a typical children's birthday party. Sure, you can decide on a theme and then search the Internet to see what's available but 9 times out of 10, your search results are going to be geared towards children's parties.
Some decorations can be adapted for use with either but I do not recommend decorating a grown up gala event with toilet paper and a few balloons. It will give your guests the impression that you did not care enough to plan and execute a decorating scheme. And, with a fund-raising event, this can be detrimental. You are asking guests to spend a lot of money to attend this event (babysitters, ticket prices, buy auction items, attire of the event, etc...). They want to be entertained, amused and feel they are important.
The other end of the spectrum is hiring an event planning service or having unlimited funds at your disposal. Neither of these options may suit your budget. If not, then it's time to visit the "in-between" option.
Most events have a general committee made up of the Event Chairperson and sub-committee chairpersons. Decor is usually a sub-committee that deals with the decor planning for an event. This may include any number of areas within the event (room, table, buffet, auction tables, entrances, etc...) and I recommend it does cover all these areas and any other where any type of decor will be needed.
This will make it easier to keep track of the decorating budget and who's responsible for what. I also recommend that the Decor Chairperson work closely with other committees that will also use the chosen "Theme". It is necessary to have cohesion, a sense of continuity when a theme is involved.
For example, say you decided as a committee your theme will be "Ancient Egypt" and your color scheme will be gold, purple and teal. Great!
Now Additional info at a full meeting of all committees, you learn that the "Print/ Marketing" committee has decided to use a red font and a Fleur-de-leis on the invitation. Huh? Uh-oh: major "one hand does not know what the other hand is doing" scenario.
This can and should be nipped in the bud. A theme/mood and colors should be decided right from the start so that all committees are working toward the same end.
Duties could include the following (and anything else unique to your event).
• Secure volunteers for your committee. (Remember to use anyone with a background, knowledge or contacts that could be useful to the decorating committee.
• Decor should create an environment for the event. Make a detailed plan of all decor needs/wants.
• Your plan for decorating should be in accordance with the rules of the venue and within the limits of the theme (if you have one).
• Work with other committees where decor will overlap (i.e. food, entertainment, auction tables, invitations, etc...)
• Purchasing decor, set-up and breakdown of decor
• Reimbursement/purchase orders for decorations - report to Finance/Budget committee.
• Keep General Chairperson in the loop of all your plans (communication beforehand can avoid problems later).
Following a POA (plan of action) can make your job as Decor Chairperson or committee member much easier. Research and pre-planning are key to a successful event. Have Fun! Let your creative juices flow and your event will be one to remember!
In this article we will examine the main constituent parts which make up program management as carried out by a program manager. Firstly, let's define what it allows you to do: it allows organizations to manage complex bodies of work that combine software elements, hardware elements, new or changed business models, and changes to organizational structure and capabilities as a whole. It allows us to do this in a way so that the organization realizes benefits that it could not achieve if the program's constituent projects were run separately.
Now let's examine the main components of program management:
Governance
This aspect is concerned with defining the structure so that the program can be guided, both by the program manager and by senior managers. It is during this phase that roles and responsibilities will be defined. While the structure for managing projects is normally quite simple, the structure for managing programs will typically be much more complex, spanning multiple divisions within the organization.
Management
This aspect relates to the planning and running of both the projects which make up the program and the overall program itself. They are accountable for every aspect of quality, schedule, and budget. They will approve the project plans and provide guidance to the project teams also.
Finance
This aspect is concerned with the financial policies and practices governing the program execution. Because programs are much larger than projects, there will typically be, not just a greater cost incurred in running a program, but also a greater variety of costs incurred.
Infrastructure
If anything, this is the aspect of the role that most resembles project management. By Infrastructure we are referring to a variety of different things. Making sure issues are managed. Making sure that risks are managed. Ensuring that resources are coordinated. It also encompasses making sure that all communication is well thought out and well coordinated.
Planning
Program management is also concerned greatly with planning. This is not planning how you might think of it within a project management context. Project plans are concerned with deliverables and work packages. Program plans are an integrated visualization of the key deliverables of the program, and they will be structured such so as to best realize benefits to the organization.
All of the above categories may seem similar in essence to project management, but they are not. In program management these activities are much broader in their scope and concerned with benefits rather than deliverables. I hope this article has give you a good overview of the key aspects of program management.